Enterprise Analysis...An Overview

Enterprise analysis by a Business Analyst is a method used to identify and define why an organizational change is needed.

As a business or enterprise develops, it evolves to meet the needs and objectives of its' founders. As time goes by, it can grow so large that it becomes overburdened by too many products, or too many divisions, or too many management levels or a multitude of other problems. It may lose sight of its' original goals, and fail to recognize new business opportunities.

Enterprise analysis by a Business Analyst is a method used to identify and define why an organizational change is needed. In order to learn what is going on, the BA cannot do better than to keep in mind Descartes' 4 rules: the "true method of arriving at a knowledge of all things of which my mind was capable" (Discourse, p. 16):

Rule 1 Method of Systematic Doubt: accept nothing as true unless clearly recognized as such; Rule 2 Analysis: to solve problems systematically by analyzing them part by part; Rule 3 Synthesis: to proceed from the simple (seed) to the complex; and Rule 4: Avoidance of Deductive Error: to review everything thoroughly to ensure that nothing is omitted.

While enterprise analysis is generally considered the responsibility of upper level management, quite often these busy executives lack the time and specific skills to properly address these problems or opportunities. The BA therefore can play an important role by bringing the requisite analysis skills necessary to achieve an optimum solution.

To accomplish these challenging objectives, the BA will:- Identify the Enterprise Architecture- Conduct feasibility studies- Establish the project scope- Conduct the initial risk assessment- Prepare the decision proposal, and following approval,- Implement and run the project.